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November 23,2013 Albuquerque Martial Arts Presentations

Albuquerque martial arts students dazzled friends and well-wishers with their kung fu skills as they completed the final phase of their requirements for new rank at Martial Artistry Shaolin Kung Fu and Chinese Wushu. Presenting their forms and receiving new ranks were:

With our Little Dragons martial arts class bursting at the seams, we felt it would be a great time to add some more instructors to the class for children ages 4-8. Long time kung fu instructors April Dawn Duncan and Barbara "Ellie" Wilson stepped up to help out, and we added some new instructor's aides as well. Kevin and Caitlyn Rodgers are going to be a great additon to our Little Dragons Instructors Team.

We also got some new some fun toys to help our youngest students work on their wushu air time. Just take a look at what they're doing already!

Saturday, July 13, 2013 Shiny!

(L to R) Dorothy Stender, Jen Vossen and Barbara Wilson work to restore the martial arts trophies to some semblance of their former lustre.

The result of an afternoon martial arts trophy scrubbing - a bunch of shinies framing the kung fu logo mural, which is coming along as well.

Saturday, July 6, 2013 Kung Fu Cut-Ups

April Dawn Duncan hard at work getting the floor cut to size so we can start to display some of the trophies we're restoring.

Work begins on the mural for the back wall. First, we project the logo for our kung fu school, then draw it in with good, old Sharpies. Sounds easy, until you're balancing on a 15 foot ladder with your arm cramping. Right, Baker?

All drawn in. Not even painted yet, and already it looks awesome.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013 Paint On!

The painting continues. Painting the weapon racks gives the wushu guan a much cleaner look. Everyone is so excited to see this project coming together at our kung fu school!

Maybe a few got a little too excited?

Saturday June 8, 2013 Our Kung Fu Paint-Roller Technique is Strong!

Good thing, too, since the thirsty cinderblock soaked up coat after coat of paint.

Saturday June 1, 2013 Sandblasting! Or not.

The original plan was to sandblast the damaged paint and debris from the back wall. Brian Baker donned his alien horror mask, and those without respirators fled to safer parts -- and not just because Baker was uglier than usual!

Alas, it was not to be. The sandblaster took one look at the mighty job that loomed before it, and promptly gave up the ghost. No worries. We're big, tough, martial artists, and this was a splendid opportunity for the Workout of a Lifetime. Or so, Tom Sawyer-like, Sifu told everyone.

Every inch of the two story high cinderblock back wall had to be hand scraped, sanded and then washed down. Definitely not for the faint of heart. But at least we were able to entertain ourselves with "fireworks".

May 29, 2013 Preparation for the New Mural

As martial artists, we may want to take Bruce Lee's advice and be like water, but water certainly isn't so great for walls and trophies. With the new roof and the foundation work at the school complete, we're finally able to start repairing the water damage that melted scores of trophies and made our back wall look so disreputable.

Prep work began on May 29 as we cleared out the trophies, weapons racks and other stuff in order to be ready for sandblasting on June 1.

April Kung Fu Sash Presentations

Saturday April 27, 2013

April sash presentations showcased our beginning students, and their deep, solid stances (see the slideshow below of their photos taken during their form presentations) are a great testament to their diligent training. They really did us proud!

Belen HOUSE OF FLYING SQUIRRELS Movie Premiere

Saturday April 6, 2013

The cast of the kung fu comedy filmed in Albuquerque, NM dressed to the nines to strut the red carpet at the Belen premiere of HOUSE OF FLYING SQUIRRELS.

The library -- which, interestingly, houses the nicest public movie theater in Belen -- pulled out all the stops for this event, including red carpet, full color programs and posters, interviews with the media and Cory, our charming emcee.

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Even the four-legged stars were present to greet their fans. Dame Squirrely Dench (M) and Squirrel Connery (Agent 00Squirrel) were especially congenial and charming toward their fellow cast members.

Or not.

Elaine Compton (Xiao-Xiao) was the first of the wushu movie stars to walk the Carpet O' Fame. No doubt about it, this kung fu grrrrl can rock purple fringe!

Asked by the moderator what she intended to do with all of the items her kleptomanical character, Xiao-Xiao, had stolen during the course of the film, her reply was, "Hoard them." Somehow, no one seemed surprised.

While they looked smashing on the runway, Natasha didn't quite agree with Ed's description of himself as, "the perfect spouse".

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Lydia Eggert, who played the not-so-evil Slow Lotus in the film, tossed grist into the rumor mill as she flirted shamelessly with Squirrel Connery during her interview.

Eyebrows raised as she mimed "call me" to the obviously delighted rodent. Could the buzz about an on-set cast romance be true? More importantly, how does a squirrel manage to hold a phone?

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Real-life BFFs Ellie Wilson (Queen Rilo'a) and April Dawn Duncan (Neato) were next down the red carpet. Ellieseemed strangely flustered by the emcee's question about April'sreported kung fu prowress.

April assured the audience that she did, indeed, know kung fu.

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She might have gotten away with it. too had not Randy Lantz (Tai Shu Master) decided to set the record straight about April's training.

Unfortunately for Randy, April definitely has a black belt in eaves-dropping.

Like her character (Oolong, the Tea Leaf Mystic) in HOUSE OF FLYING SQUIRRELS, Lee Ann Haluska is an infamous tea connoisseur. Naturally, Cory, the emcee, couldn't resist asking her which was her favorite tea on set.

She named Monkey Dandruff Tea as the clear winner, noting its "piquantly flaky aftertaste". Not unlike Lee Ann herself, some might say.

Todd Coffey (Dr. Yes) and daughter Silvia (Velvet the Cupcake Fairy) thrilled the premiere audience by wearing costumes reminescent of their roles in the movie.

Although he was too young to be in the film at the time, Silvia's little brother showed up to support his dad and sister -- and we can certainly see he inherited his dashing father's fashion taste!

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Brian Baker (The Educator) busted some martial arts moves on the red carpet.

Baker's head is like fame. Hair today, gone tomorrow.

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Jackson (Cyborg Samurai), the youngest member of the kung fu flick's cast, sported a tuxedo and a cast for the HOUSE OF FLYING SQUIRRELS movie premiere.

Could the injury have been a cupcake stunt gone awry?

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Arguably the most convincing fight scene in the film was the battle between Dorothy Stender (Grumpy TaiTai) and her real-life son-in-law, Kuan Ma (GrumpyAsian). Cory, the emcee, queried Dorothy as to her feelings about lording it over her son-in-law with the Broom o' Doom.

It should be noted that Dorothy's on-screen adversary was strangely absent for the premiere.

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Poor Jesse Stephens. Thanks to his role as Billy Joe Jimmy Bob Buckett, he will never live down his donkey days.

No, not ever. At least, not so long as we have anything to say about it.

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If you weren’t able to make it to the Belen premiere, don't panic! HOUSE OF FLYING SQUIRRELS will be shown again (sans red carpet reception) at the Belen Library’s regular Thursday Night at the Movies on June 27 at 6:00 (doors open at 5:45). You can like the Belen Library Facebook Page for more information and updates.

March Sash Presentations

So much awesome kung fu in one sitting, followed by promotions! What's not to love?

LYDIA EGGERT: Small Fire Dragon (Xiao Huo Long) - Blue/White Sash

ED MCGINNIS: Small Fire Dragon (Xiao Huo Long) - Blue/White Sash

FATHER BARNEY DEANE: Little Tiger Swallow (Xiao Hu Yan) - Blue Sash

JOSEPH BUTNER: Little Tiger Swallow (Xiao Hu Yan) - Blue Sash

LUX VOSSEN: Spring Leg Three (Tan Tui San) - Orange/Black Sash

MIA BURDEAU: Spring Leg Two (Tan Tui Er) - Orange/White Sash

TRAVIS KRUEGER: Little Fist (Xiao Quan) - Yellow Sash

TARA MELOGRANA: Little Fist (Xiao Quan) - Yellow Sash

February Sash Presentations

Congratulations to all those who successfully presented forms for new ranks in wushu.

12th Annual Chinese New Year Celebration

Year of the Snake

The 12th Annual Chinese New Year Celebration was a spectacular success. The buffet table was loaded with sumptuous goodies brought by all our students, from the famous favorites such as Dorothy Stender's eggrolls, Chad Petty's fried rice and Brian Baker's kung pao tofu, to new items that I'm sure many hope will also become delicious traditions. There were even robust sections for our many vegetarian students, and for those who are gluten-intolerant. There were full plates and full stomachs all around, and the tables were packed to capacity. Sparky and Jonah even flew in from Seattle to join in the festivities.

At 1:00, our numbers really swelled as people trooped in, braving the cold and wind to see the world premiere of HOUSE OF FLYING SQUIRRELS. What is HOUSE OF FLYING SQUIRRELS? Well, if Monty Python's Flying Circus, a geek, and CROUCHING TIGER/HIDDEN DRAGON got tossed into a blender, put into an oven and only half-baked, HOUSE OF FLYING SQUIRRELS might be the result. The audience ran the gamut from 3 year olds to those in their 70s and up, and a number of people expressed surprise at how many little ones were able to sit focused and laughing through the entire one hour and 40 minutes, while the adults seemed thoroughly entertained as well -- although they laughed at notably different places!

If you missed the World Premiere, don't despair! The movie will be shown at the Belen Public Library, 333 Becker Ave, Belen, NM 87002 on Saturday April 6, 2013. The press will be there, and members of the cast will be present to chat, sign autographs and answer questions. The red carpet reception begins at 5:30; the movie starts at 6:00. There is no charge for the movie, but a donation to the library would be awesome! This sort of campy comedy is always best viewed with a group of friends, so you can all groan and roll your eyes together!

If you're just not the social type, HOUSE OF FLYING SQUIRRELS (kung fu comedy) is posted in its entirety on Youtube. Youtube and the format the movie was shot in don't play well together, so the quality is not what you will see on the movie screen, but at least we finally got Youtube to display the film in 720p, so it could be worse. There are a few places where Youtube makes the special effects even more "special", but just try to consider it all part of the cheesy fun, k?

If you watch the movie, posted in its entirety WITH NO ANNOYING ADS (none that profit us, anyway), won't you please do us the kindness of liking it on Youtube? It would help the movie rank higher in internet searches, and our hard-working martial arts students would love the exposure. If you enjoy the film, we'd love for you to share it with your friends on Facebook and the like.

Our first annual silent auction was also a rousing success. It was rather off-the-cuff, a last-minute suggestion by Brian Baker, and will be better organized and have more items next year. Still, dozens of guests left with happy grins and new treasures! Thank you all for your bids. We hope to do another film one day with our students, and the funds will be used to improve our lighting so our chroma-key work will be of better quality.

January Kung Fu Sash Presentations 1-26-2013

Another large group of martial artists treated their audience to dazzling kung fu forms in their bids to attain new ranks. Our latest Albuquerque martial arts class promotions, along with the kung fu routines presented are: